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Published on Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Mayor sleeping in car for a good cause

Event raising funds for charity that helps homeless families

Mayor Rob Burton

Oakville Mayor sleeping in car for a good cause Sept. 23

By David Lea, Oakville Beaver

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton will join 99 other residents from across Halton and the GTA who will sleep in their cars Saturday (Sept. 23) in order to support local homeless families.

The event, which is being organized by the charity Home Suite Hope, is intended to raise awareness and funds to help single parent families who are in crisis and live with the reality of homelessness every day.

Each participant is asked to raise $1,000 or more to meet a fundraising goal of $100,000.

The Oakville-based Home Suite Hope provides transitional housing to a growing homeless population in Halton Region that needs support beyond what is provided by emergency shelter facilities.

The charity provides long-term refuge (average stay of up to 24 months) for low-income, precariously-housed, single parent families so they can have the time necessary to stabilize their lives.

Burton said he’s willing to spend one night sleeping in his car to help make people aware of the important work Home Suite Hope performs.

“I am doing this because I have witnessed firsthand the incredible success this program has with vulnerable people who need this program to get back on their feet and be productive and happy members of society,” said Burton.

“If more people know about this program more people will support it.”

Proceeds raised during the event will go toward housing, education, support and training for the community’s most vulnerable families.

Organizers point out that on any given night in Halton more than 750 families deal with being homeless.